Italy and the Vatican have reached an uneasy truce in their running battle over electromagnetic radiation from the Vatican's radio station.

The Vatican's antenna are blamed for a high cancer rate

In a climb-down from its previously uncompromising stance, the Italian Government has now given Vatican Radio until the end of April to negotiate a reduction.

Vatican Radio has said it is satisfied with the decision.

Residents near the Vatican's transmission centre say excessive electromagnetic levels - dubbed electrosmog by the media - have caused an unusually high number of cases of leukaemia in the area.

Cabinet compromise

Italian Environment Minister Willer Bordon has taken a tough stance

The Italian Environment Minister, Willer Bordon, had threatened to cut off electricity to Vatican Radio on Tuesday if it did not dramatically reduce its emissions to bring it in line with Italy's strict laws on radiation.